"Steve Urkel Glasses"

Kayleb left one of his Value Village "finds" at our house last night.

Today Hudson found them and rocked some new looks like it was 1989.

Go Urkel...Go Urkel...

Haliey's Baptism

Our 3rd child was Baptized today. Holy smokes, how time fly's by. She is so big and tall and beautiful. Especially when dressed in a pretty white dress.

Hailey had her Dad Baptize and Confirm her today. She has been preparing for this day for a long, long time now and is excited to join the ranks of her 2 older siblings.

This is a special day for us too. We are so proud of her decision to take this step and know that heavenly Father is well pleased.

We love you sis. Congratulations on your special day, and this special event.

EARINGS!!!!

Ear infections from a week ago are all cleared up and it's time!

Getting two new holes punched in her ears was easier than she thought it would be.

It's official...Hailey is now a girlie girl :)

Congrats!

Hailey's 8th Birthday!

Today was a "no school" Friday so it was the perfect day to celebrate Hailey's 8th Birthday.

She started her day with an early morning "happy birthday song" and surprise candle stuck in her french toast.

Then it was time to leave for a date with mom for the morning. This date had been planned for more than a month and she was super excited. The date was shopping for a new outfit and then... getting her ears pierced (something the girls in our family can choose to do when they turn 8). Part of the fun of this is shopping for and getting to pick out their new earrings. Sad story though... Hailey has had a really bad ear infection all week. She's been on antibiotics for a few days now and is starting to feel better but her ear is still really swollen and very painful when touched. So we were only able to do half of our date today. We bought a few new outfits and picked out earrings and an earring holder but we'll have to come back next week to actually get them pierced.

At noon Hailey and I met Dan, the kids and a few of her friends at Chuck E Cheese for a little lunch birthday party.

Her big surprise this year, from the family, was a new bike, which we wheeled in behind her without her even noticing.

It was funny to see her face when she finally turned around and noticed the bike.

All the kids had a great time and lots of fun with Chuck E today!

Happy Birthday Hailey!

Don't Hold Your Breath!!!

So right before lunch today I got a phone call from the school nurse saying that Hailey had fainted and fallen and cracked her head, and asked if I could come and pick her up.

Seriously?? What in the world??

When I sent her to school she was completely fine, not sick or anything. So I asked tons of questions and was imagining that the rest of my day would be spent in the ER just checking things out to make sure she was okay. I mean, why would a perfectly healthy, energetic kid just fall to the floor, completely unconscious? It really scared me.

When I got to school no one really had answers for me. They said she was fine all morning, didn't seem tired or sick. Her teacher just said that the kids were lined up for lunch and as the line moved forward down the hall Hailey completely veered off in a totally different direction then fell over like a tree to the floor. Another mom in the hall ran over to her and she was completely unconscious. When she came to she couldn't remember what had happened.

It was so random.

I left Hailey with the nurse to go down to her classroom and gather her things so I could take her home. As I was leaving the classroom one of Hailey's friends ran up to me saying,"I know why Hailey fainted." She went on the tell me that while Hailey was waiting in line to go down to the cafeteria they were having a contest to see who could hold their breath the longest and to see who could get their face the reddest. Yikes! Nice contest, huh?

Does that mean Hailey wins?

Hailey and this little girl ended up saying that a lot of the kids are doing this at recess, which lead to a huge 2nd grade class discussion entitled, "Don't Hold Your Breath!"

Pinewood Derby 2010

Go Ky! Go!

Muscle Man!!!

Here's a picture I'll definitely be saving to show all of Hudson's high school girlfriends.

Ryan and Ashley's newest addition

Congrats to Ryan and Ashley. They just had their baby this morning at 1:22am. It's a girl and they named her Capri Nicole Ostler. She was born 8 weeks early weighing in at only 4lbs 15.9oz. Tiny to most, but right on par when compared with their other babies. She will have to be in the NICU for a few weeks but they said she is looking and doing great!

I threw Ashley a little baby shower just a few weeks ago. It seemed really early to be having it because she still had 12 weeks to go.... but we did it then just in case Capri came early, and sure enough, she did :)

Here are a few pics from the shower.

Shhhhh... don't tell...

...my kids but I just got back from their school. I snuck in and delivered a Valentine surprise to each one of their desks.

This is what the girls will find when they show up to school in the morning...

Roses, a new Valentine Webkinz, and a homemade card that says to pick one of the date options below and a day next week to go on a special date with mom or dad :)

And for the boys...

Balloons (the big one sings), a bag full of Valentines treats, and a homemade card that says to pick one of the date options below and a day next week to go on a special date with mom or dad :)

I love sneaky surprises!

Happy Valentine's Day guys!

Cruel and unusual punishment???

Today I have had it. My children have been fighting, arguing, and tattling ALLLLLLLLL day. Calgon, take me away!

I figured it was because they have been couped up in our little house together all winter so I suggested that they go outside and play in the backyard while I made dinner.

No such luck though. The crying, fighting, pushing, yelling, and arguing continued. Once I was sure the whole neighborhood could here how mean my children were being to each other I stepped out on the porch and calmly invited them all back inside. They followed me into the playroom where I piled up all of their bean bags and told them that I wanted them touching noses for 10 minutes. "No... I'm not joking," I said. "Lay down and touch noses until you're back in love with each other, I'm DONE with all of the fighting!"

I used to have a similar punishment when I was little which involved having to stand there hugging a sibling I had been fighting with until love oozed out of our pores. But I was dealing in bulk today so this is what I came up with. I hope I'm not reported to CPS for cruel and unusual punishment because it actually seemed to do the trick.

At first the kids giggled, thinking this was the craziest consequence yet, then one of the kids made a mean comment saying, "Ew, your breath smells like beef jerky."

So another rule was added. "No talking unless the comments were loving and kind."

So the next thing I heard was "You're breath smells like beef jerky and that is my most favorite snack ever." They stayed like this for quite awhile, until dinner was finished. Nose to nose, with a lot of giggling going on :) At last....Love was oozing out of their pores and I was in a much better mood. :)

Prayer Rock

The kids all have a prayer rock that they put on their pillow so when they go to bed they see it or feel it and it reminds them that they need to kneel down and say their prayers. Then, at night, they move it to the floor so when they get up in the morning they step on it as they are getting out of bed and remember to say their morning prayers. I guess the floor reminder wasn't working well enough for Hailey because when I went to check on the kids tonight before I went to bed this is how I found Hailey.

Sleeping WITH her prayer rock. Maybe waking up to a rock on her tummy will be a better reminder.....HMMM...we'll see.

The "NEVER ENDING CHECKLIST"

Okay, seriously.......I thought that I was out of high school and that my homework days were over. I can't believe what my day is stacked like.

To name a few.....here is how today is shaking out for me.

4 extravaganza projects for each of my elementary schoolers, due all too soon. (Do they actually think the kids do these on their own??)

1 book report

2 church talks to prepare for Jr and Sr Primary (Really??? 2 kids in the same week)

A mandatory Monster Valentines Day Mailbox to make, write a report, turn in and have graded. (The directions say: ask for a parent's help)

2 kids x 2 piano recital songs to pick out and master.

4 kids x 30 valentines cards each to make

"Mom I volunteered you to be in charge of my class party."

"Mom I volunteered to be in charge of our Orchestra Party, I need to make fliers and bring plates, napkins and cookies."

"I need to bring drinks to my party."

"I need to bring sprinkles to mine."

"My teacher needs you to come for 2hrs on Friday to help in my class"

"Mom my teacher sent these home for you to cut out"

And my homework list goes on and on.

Oh yeah.....did I mention that Dan gives me homework too.

I won't even start in on the list of bookwork and taxes I just finished up for Dan's 3 businesses. Does it ever end. My checklist never seems to get fully checked off. EVER!!!!! Ughh!!

Basketball for the big kids

Alaina and Ky both played Basketball this winter, they had a lot of fun and really enjoyed the teams they were on. It was neat to watch them grow and learn, and see the improvement in their basketball skills throughout the season. Here's a few pics from a couple of their games.

Ky rocked a Mohawk at most of his games for the height and intimidation factor :)

Face Painting

For Christmas the kids got gift cards from Kristy, to spend at a craft store here in town. Hailey and Ky combined their money together and bought a face painting kit together.

The kids have now been playing with them for weeks. It was $12.99 well spent!

I love that the kids are getting older and are able to do this all on their own. They set up shop and paint away. No TV + playing nicely with brothers and sisters= 1 happy mom! Body Paint :)

Kase is the only one who didn’t care to have his face painted. He loves painting the other kids up, but was too chicken to let others have their way with him. The one time he gave in and let them do it….he went straight to the mirror and decided he was too embarrassed to keep it on. He washed it off quickly and that was the end of that for him.

Last night when all of the kids painted their faces black, for camouflage, to go out in the dark for flash light tag. Kase just went with the “I am not wearing paint, but still want to play” outfit. Go Kase!!

My little Brace Face :)

Dan decided to go for ROUND #2 of braces.

Ohhhhh....Isn't he cute :)

Family Ski Trip

We took a few friends and their families up to Camp Zarahemla, this weekend, for some skiing, a little fun and relaxation.

Packing for a quick weekend getaway sure isn’t as easy as it used to be. We were a 2 vehicle family for this vacation. It’s amazing how much stuff you need for a family of 7 when you’re bringing all of your own bedding, food, extra clothes for when the kids get wet, ski gear for 7, and TV/Games and fun for the whole group. Gone are the days of the “grab a suitcase and let’s go” kind of trips. Now it is a “grab the 9 suitcases, and the extra car and let’s do our best to get out of here on time” kind of trip. :)

Most of our time in the lodge was spent sitting by the fire playing games (lots and lots and lots of games), eating yummy snacks, and watching movies. The kids had fun with all of their friends playing on their DS’s, and running around playing bunk bed hide and seek in the loft.

The ladies sat around and visited. Ooopps, did I just say that? I was just kidding. They are totally discussing the Fishing and Hunting Magazine article they just read, I am sure.

Kate put in some much needed homework hours.

The girls ran a beauty salon.

And of course some SERIOUS relaxing took place :) Most of the time was just spent “Hanging out”.

On one of the mornings we bundled everyone up for a walk down by the frozen lake. I started out with the camera for the first few minutes of our walk but after my 2nd slip and splat straight to the icy ground Dan confiscated the camera. (That’s why I’m actually in a few of these pictures). Speaking of Dan confiscating the camera…..It has to be said. Typically I am bragging on him cause he is such a stud of a husband, but on the occasions when I slipped and nearly DIED, all he said was, “Did you hurt the camera, oh, oh the camera!” Seriously hun…..next time, how about an... "Oh babe, are you okay, can I help you up??"...Or something similar. :)

Clint tried his hand in the kitchen but after setting a dish towel on fire, and nearly burning down the lodge…

…He was replaced by these lovely ladies.

Kathy, Jenne, Wendi, Kate, and me.

White pass ski resort is only a few miles away from our lodge so we spent a couple days skiing with the kids, and while they were in lessons, with the adults.

Here’s the whole gang!

It was overcast, foggy and icy for most of Saturday but the kids still loved it! I normally stay on the bunny hill but Kate and Jenne talked me into going up to the top of the mountain with them. It was beautiful up there. Seriously Beautiful. I was SO GLAD they talked me into going up with them…..I said 'GOING UP' with them. Going down was a whole different story. I skied for about 30 feet and then the blooper real began. I ended up falling, slipping, sliding and rolling the rest of the way down the mountain. Ouch.

Greg and Brit joined us for skiing on Saturday and stayed the last night at the lodge with us.

It was an awesome weekend with a lot of fun memories made with our friends and family.

So much fun in fact that I would seriously consider making a tradition of a winter trip like this each snow season. Tons of fun, and we were glad to share it with the friends that agreed to come. Thanks All.

Smokey, wet, piles of laundry here I come.